Tuesday, March 29, 2011

On Sunday, the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team advanced to its first Final Four in 13 years, and it seems just about everyone in the Louisville television market was watching.

The game averaged a rating of 37, which includes all televisions in Louisville. The peak of this average occurred during the last part of the game, when the ratings grew to 44.3. The game also had an average share of 56 percent of the TVs that were turned on during that period in Louisville. This share also peaked at the end of the game, rising to a 63 share.

These ratings were higher than the Super Bowl that aired in February. For comparison, CSI: Miami, the popular show that also aired on Sunday, had an 11 rating and 17 percent share.

The Louisville television market is known nationally as the top market for March Madness - with the highest ratings for the college basketball tournament of all TV markets year after year.

The Regional Final ratings were also higher than the Sweet 16 matchup between UK and Ohio State. That game drew and average rating of 34 and a 49 percent share.

Overall, ratings for the tournament nationally are up 11 percent over last year due to the tournment games being split between CBS and cable networks TBS, TNT and TruTV, allowing viewers to watch every game from tipoff to the final horn.